Smyrna times., 1887-01-19
Letter From Scott Way,
WINTER IN CALIFORNIA.
A Land Of Pure Delight, Sunshine and
December Strawberries.

SAN JOSE, CAL, Dec. IA, ISS6.-Yes-
terday was the end of my second week
In San Jose. l have seen some of the
best and little of the worst of Santa
Clara Valley winter weather and am
very well pleased with it "as far as |
have gone" In the two weeks have
been considering the climate with
something of critical mind, and not
perfect trustfulness. We have had two
partly rainy days, one night of showers,
two days of fog and clouds, and one or
two toggy mornings followed by bright
days. The remainder of the period has
furnished as fine weather as an invalid
like myself could wish. The mercury
has ranged from about so or 55 early in
the morning, to about 65 at noon. Two
or three days it reached 20 in the shade
at the warmest part of the day. The
nights are just cool enough for pair of
thick blankets as covering, and, if one
lives in sunny rooms, fires are not
needed clear days. A little fire in the
open CRATE is all that is wanted during
the dampest and cOldest weather.
Children run bareheaded and without
wraps, and to-day, as l write, l see
from my window number of persons
sitting in the park enjoying the sun
shine and the kindly December air.
though the day is cooler than the aver
age of clear days have spent here.
The sunshine is delightfully."- invigo-
rating and seems to hold out a standing
and almost irresistible invitation to
come out into it and feel good. A
" Ienderfoot" like the writer can't
seem to get enough of it.
There has been one earthquake since
my coming, but it occurred while |
was out with Il Forty Miner" seeing
the California Masonic goat caper and
consequently | didn't know aught of
the earthquake till l read about it in
the papers next morning. | don't
mind a little earthquake like that, but
If an earthquake calls me out in the
middle of the night and creates a dis
turbance and finally tips brick church
or something over on me 1 shall kick.
can live peaceably in the same house
with an earthquake so long as it don't
wake me up when l want to sleep.
San Jose is one of the healthiest
places in the world. OF course, (any-
body who lives here will tell you that
rec of cost, but people do die here
sometimes. 1t was quite a shock to
ne to find this out, coming here as l
lid because this was represented to be
70 healthful, but the first day rode
'ut l met a very large, progressive
cemetery, Perhaps l expect too much
'ut my idea of a health resort that has
my right to advertise itselfas a health
esort is place where the impressive
mile and deep inquiring look of the
Undertaken are never seen and where
entenarians skip around aftera young
wife. As healthful State California
will do pretty well, however. Down
t Santa Barbara, the other day, when |
hey were celebrating the one hun
redth anniversary of the founding of
he Old Mission there, an Indian woman
ged ITO years danced the Fandango
nth number of other people Of both
exes equally agile but not so old by
lght or nine years. So you will read
y see that there is nothing to prevent
person who shuns the drug store and
ne doctors from reaching u ripe old
ge in California.
The effect of the climate on the an
elite of tenderfoot is remarkable.
a the matter of eating l have quite
eaten my best Eastern record and am
rowing too big for my clothes Aside
ON what are in the West called
three good square meals" l have
Ianaged to take into my system daily
lree or four pounds of grapes, and
'ithOut much of an effort either. One
Iust revel in these California table
rapes to know anything about them.
here are upwards of dozen varieties
them now in market, and this is
ell along toward the last end of the
rape season. They come in July and
st till after Christmas. Many bunch
J weigh more than a pound and the
eld from an acre of vines in full bear
g is from ten to fifteen tons. When
came here two weeks ago the best of
Iese grapes were retailing at the San
,se fruit stores six pounds for twenty
ye cents. Now they are selling at
ge 10 six cents pound.
The San Jose fruit and vegetable
lops show the kindly nature of the
lnta Clara Valley climate. Aside
ON table grapes, Strawberries, figs,
ttnce, radishes, onions, green peas,